Messages

Kildare in fine form?Look closely and you may find they are not in that great of form.They could not beat a Dublin B team in Newbridge and just about got past a college team.Down to win by 2
I really like the look of our team.I think Ross will come on at some stage.Really up to match pace and could be the difference in the last 20 minutes.
Cunningham
O Hagen
Howard
Collins
Garvey
McArdle
Johnstone
Mooney
McKernan
Devlin
Poland
Johnstone
Laverty
McConville
O Hare

Although Mooney might not be in the squad?

A muppet is right.
That guy couldn't even win games for his own club when it mattered most, against a Div3 Hurling club from Kerry never mind against a senior intercounty side.
Shockingly overrated. Scored for fun all year against shit teams and now hailed as a messiah. Laughable.
Kildare bullied a better and bigger Down team in the championship last year and you think that the current panel will fare better and your reason for this is?

Whats a cpn?
I think ye would be safer to judge Ross McGarry next year when playing against Div1 defenders.
If memory serves me, he wasn't too hot when Point were last up there.
Easy to shine when the goin is good, not so easy to shine when the chips are down and your team needs you.
A lot of players should only be judged when tough questions are asked of them. Its then you can tell a lot about a player, his worth, his attitude, his character.
Then again ye have to hand it to any player than go out and score heavily against the Aghadergs and Ballymartins of this world. No offence to those clubs.
Sometimes the bias and blinkered views on here are unreal.

[C]

Fair play to the bridge indeed. Think they may have another kick in them yet and have a say where the championship trophy ends up this season.
Dont think anyone would take them lightly after that result. Bryansford will have been disappointed with that result. Dawson will have to work some magic over next 2 years there to get them across the line. Kilcoo should win handy enough tonight ye would think.
As for the intermediate, it has always been Points to lose. Nobody will touch them. Fancy themselves for Ulster and All-Ireland glory too apparently. Kingdowm and Liatroim will only stand in their way but they wont stop Cant Pronounce the Name lifting the trophy.
Point will do nothing proper until they sort out the soccer issue they have. Players not playing for their club cuz they away playin saccer still seems to be problem there. Bound to cause dressing room friction. Serious GAA clubs don't tolerate that nonsense and serious players don't entertain it either.

twas a disaster taking those 2 championship games away to Downpatrick of saturdya. Nightmare.

Technically speaking it wasn't a total wipe out for Burren this year.
Miceal Magill's all conquering U14 side won the All Ireland feile and the Down championship too.

Managerial merrygoround update.
Hearing that Declan Mussen taking Warrenpoint next year.
They change managers every year down there??

Surely not.

It's amazing that 2 years ago when Warrenpoint Town were winning IFA Championship 2 and Newry City were being relegated that the majority of the players who secured the 'Point's promotion were languishing the Carnbane League.
Stevie Moan up until last year was captain of Newry Celtic. Two years ago Rambo was playing up front for the Bessbrook Utd team which reached the Junior Cup final whilst younger brother Dingo was up front for Cleary Celtic. Kenny Kearns was also part of the Bessbrook Utd side that reached that Junior Cup final. Mark Hughes was playing for Crieve Rovers and Stephen "Giggsy" McCabe was lining out for Windmill Stars. Only for Newry's relegation and subsequent reliance on local players they might never have got a chance at this level. With Newry's demise Barry Gray wasted no time in getting these lads. Fair play to all of them, junior to senior football in two years is a great achievement.

All very true, good to see these guys getting a chance at the higher level having proved themselves on the way up.

Boyle and Cowan both back playing GAA for the point too now just to note, along with Gary Boyle who is also in the squad.

Where were those fellas last Thursday night when their club needed them against an average Mayobridge side when they lost by 7pts? Surely the Point GAA club arent too happy with that. And what of the other GAA clubs that these fellas play for, Bosco, Annaclone, Rostrevor etc.

Some absurd comments on this topic by ill informed people. Firstly those two lads who are the centre of defence for the Point team probably opted out of this game the evening before the second leg and just 48 hours after the first leg - makes sense, one game won't make much difference. Having said that Shaun Parr played for Rostrevor Wed night against Loughinisland the night after the first leg - a bit of a non runner of an argument I'm afraid.

Do Warrenpoint meet the IFA stadium standards? Whatever they are and if not will the DC still be playing Premiership football next year?

As been said before no the ground doesn't meet the standards and at the moment will be playing at Stangmore Park in Dungannon for home games, not ideal but something which had to be negotiated and sorted pretty quickly. DC will be firmly stuck in Championship 1 next season.

Probably no preference,but soccer pays and on the eve of a second leg promotion play off,even if Warrenpoint Town permitted it,they're hardly going to opt for a GAA club game.

MR2 Warrenpoint Town's ground doesnt meet standards so they will have to play home games at a venue that does.Newry show grounds 7 miles up the road is ideal but for a reason that has yet to be clearly explained,this venue isn't available.

Yes heard that Newry isn't available, reasons? And by playing in the league below surely if you have ambitions of getting into the premiership then you need to be ready for it, if not why bother?

Another ill informed comment. The club in no way would have though Premiership football would have come round so soon. As has been said the fact we managed to get a good few Newry players propelled the club from sustaining their place in Champ 1 last season to promotion candidates this season. It was neither financially or logistically viable for the ground to be up to required standards for the IPL next season.

What money? Average gate as someone posted was 53;-)

So they would rather pay their players than develop the club and the infrastructure around it for the next generation of kids coming through the club. This is what is wrong local soccer, well one of the main things anyway, everyone standing with their hand out with next to no loyalty to the club paying them.

Where does one start with this. 4 years ago the club was in Mid Ulster Intermediate A league and similarly the youth teams were in the same regional Mid Ulster leagues for their levels. The club has worked tirelessly over the last number of years developing the coaches for underages with UEFA and FIFA qualifications, developing a small ground with basic 'pub team' facilities, to somewhere with a full 3G training pitch, perimeter fenced off playing field, a covered seated stand, catering for match days for officials and supporters, tannoy system, a new permanent club house with changing faciltites, storage, small bar and social area - all of this costs a lot of money, and given that the club is indeed Amateur, a lot of effort and funding is required to complete all of this. The first team is now in the Irish Premier Division and all the youth teams are playing very competitively in the NI National youth leagues - how is all of that for developing the 'infrastructure' of the club over such a short time?

Plans are already in place for developing the ground further up to Irish League standard, however funding and sponsorship is still being sourced. Yes Mr Gray has been very generous with the sponsorship and the work he has done for the club is far beyond the call of duty, however he can only give so much of his companies money for sponsorship, there will be other people/companies needed to come onboard for future developments. In addition to this Barry Gray does not 'own' the club, there are a group of decision makers within the club who have vast experience in different areas of business who all pull together for the good of the club, there are some very unsung heroes within the set up without who this development would not be possible.

As for paying players - the players get a mere weekly expense which only started this season, which would just about cover their costs of getting to training/games 3 times a week, there is no 'salary' as such as the club cannot afford this sort of expenditure. So I hope you can see that from Warrenpoint's example there is not much wrong with local soccer, we should be proud of what we have achieved and how we have gone about it. The constant development and strive for success in the club is down to everyone involved from the coaches of underage to the board of directors and trustees which I have mentioned. A soundly run club with hopefully a bright future - I think the infrastructure is coming along nicely thanks!

Ps Unlike a lot of other Amateur and not so Amateur groups the club does not owe a huge amount to gov or councils. Rates reliefs are available for the club because of the status and money owed is controllable and a small amount overall and being paid off accordingly.

So how is this huge success going to affect the GAA clubs id mentioned.
How will the players you mentioned play both codes next year assuming that they are so central to their club teams.
For a Rostrevor man you seem to be so very 'well informed'. Its good that you're able to enlighten us ill-informed.
I look forward to the Warrenpoint Soccer Club contributing to the local community in Warrenpoint and the people that they represent for years to come. Would be nice to see all these homegrown first team players going back to grassroots and into the local schools in the town they all attended themselves and give something back.

It's amazing that 2 years ago when Warrenpoint Town were winning IFA Championship 2 and Newry City were being relegated that the majority of the players who secured the 'Point's promotion were languishing the Carnbane League.
Stevie Moan up until last year was captain of Newry Celtic. Two years ago Rambo was playing up front for the Bessbrook Utd team which reached the Junior Cup final whilst younger brother Dingo was up front for Cleary Celtic. Kenny Kearns was also part of the Bessbrook Utd side that reached that Junior Cup final. Mark Hughes was playing for Crieve Rovers and Stephen "Giggsy" McCabe was lining out for Windmill Stars. Only for Newry's relegation and subsequent reliance on local players they might never have got a chance at this level. With Newry's demise Barry Gray wasted no time in getting these lads. Fair play to all of them, junior to senior football in two years is a great achievement.

All very true, good to see these guys getting a chance at the higher level having proved themselves on the way up.

Boyle and Cowan both back playing GAA for the point too now just to note, along with Gary Boyle who is also in the squad.

Where were those fellas last Thursday night when their club needed them against an average Mayobridge side when they lost by 7pts? Surely the Point GAA club arent too happy with that. And what of the other GAA clubs that these fellas play for, Bosco, Annaclone, Rostrevor etc.

Have to say congratulations to Warrenpoint Minors on comprehensively beating their lovely neighbours from Burren in the Minor championship final on sunday. running out easy winners the result was never in doubt, and if truth be told they shpuld have bate them out the gate by more. Nice to lift the minor title and well deserved after tasting defeat in the last few finals. With a good 12/13 of the same players available again next year all augurs well for the Blues. Also worth pointing out that there were 6/7 panel members involved with that Burren minor team who live in Point. The transfer system alive and well in Burren still.

With the Point having lifted both the All County Minor and Premier Reserve Championships at the expense of Burren they could be goin all out for a clean sweep if they win against Bosco on sunday. 

Ask your manager. He probably knows more about it.

I bought a ticket. But I still don't agree with it.

Does anyone know if the draw is to fund a new venture, to pay off debt, or to cover running expenses? Genuine answers please.

Couldnt disagree with the thing any stronger if i tried. Its another nugget from our media/PRO-savvy County Board. Whatever way ye dress it up the thing just shits all over Club Down and the work that they had put in over the last 5 years or so. It also totally goes against whatever club fundraising initiatives already exist across the county. People simply dont have the money these days, its an absolute disgrace. Its even more ridiculous that the county board have seen fit to take away home fixtures for clubs who dont sell their quota, thats a racket of shit if there was one. What i would love to know is who were the clubs that actually voted in favour of all this and who were the 14 clubs that apparently abstained from voting on the issue. I mean come on FFS, why would a club let alone 14 of them not vote on such a controversial issue. Anyone?

The county board would be better off getting the fingers out and maybe spend their time to try figure out ways of improving the standard of refereeing across the county. Or maybe if they actually sorted out the Hurling & Camogie leagues and ensured that they ran fully and successfully it might actually aid clubs and the development of our games. Maybe they could once and for all sort out the farce that is inter-club transfers and club boundaries to stop clubs poaching players, or players playing for whoever they like regardless of where they live (Loughinisland, Burren, Ballyholland, Annaclone etc). If only they grew a set and actually took a stand on the important grassroots issues affecting clubs. The whole thing stinks.

Welcome aboard Mr Diarrhea,
Always good to see new members getting involved with debates about matters in the county. One small query. What are the reasons for you grouping Ballyholland in with Burren and Loughinisland, etc on the player poaching issue?? Good man..I'm sure you have loads of concrete examples

Yes hardly poaching. Maybe poaching is too strong a word. My point being that its all too easy for players to suddenly transfer from club to club willy-nilly.(never thought id ever type those words). Loyalty and pride in parish/place of birth is all too easy cast aside today. Croke Park leaves it up to the County Boards to regulate and oversee the system but they do a piss poor job as far as i can see.
Anyhow are youse not currently down the newry dual carriageway on the coast trying to coax an ex county panelist to come play for your club?

I bought a ticket. But I still don't agree with it.

Does anyone know if the draw is to fund a new venture, to pay off debt, or to cover running expenses? Genuine answers please.

Couldnt disagree with the thing any stronger if i tried. Its another nugget from our media/PRO-savvy County Board. Whatever way ye dress it up the thing just shits all over Club Down and the work that they had put in over the last 5 years or so. It also totally goes against whatever club fundraising initiatives already exist across the county. People simply dont have the money these days, its an absolute disgrace. Its even more ridiculous that the county board have seen fit to take away home fixtures for clubs who dont sell their quota, thats a racket of shit if there was one. What i would love to know is who were the clubs that actually voted in favour of all this and who were the 14 clubs that apparently abstained from voting on the issue. I mean come on FFS, why would a club let alone 14 of them not vote on such a controversial issue. Anyone?

The county board would be better off getting the fingers out and maybe spend their time to try figure out ways of improving the standard of refereeing across the county. Or maybe if they actually sorted out the Hurling & Camogie leagues and ensured that they ran fully and successfully it might actually aid clubs and the development of our games. Maybe they could once and for all sort out the farce that is inter-club transfers and club boundaries to stop clubs poaching players, or players playing for whoever they like regardless of where they live (Loughinisland, Burren, Ballyholland, Annaclone etc). If only they grew a set and actually took a stand on the important grassroots issues affecting clubs. The whole thing stinks.

Long time lurker, first time poster.
I think alot of people are definitely underestimating Burren.
Id say that this is the game they have been wanting to get since they lost out last year to cross.
Id be surprised if they sit back this time and admire cross for the first 30mins like they did last year.
Yes they might be weakened with suspensions and injuries but still dont think this one will pan out as some people think.
Cross are an excellent side, dont get me wrong, but if im honest i see Burren taking them this time round to make amends for 12 months previous.

On the game last sunday, i was impressed with Latton's sheer guts and spirit. They never gave up and kept plugging away, a very honest, hard-working effort from the Monaghan men. Lennon was a colossus in the middle of the field and had no equal, only for their shooting they would have perhaps taken Burren. Burren did what they had to when it mattered and would be happy enough to stutter unconvincingly into an ulster final and be labelled as underdogs.

Totally unrelated i know, but was wondering could anyone clear this one up. Was entering the ground at Armagh on sunday and seen Michael McGill the former Down player, he had a Burren tracksuit on. Was he not a Warrenpoint player previously, or was he their manager or what. Is he involved with the Burren team or whats the connection there. Settle a dispute amongst friends.